Who is Penny Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma?
PENELOPE “Penny” Knatchbull was one of Prince Philip’s closest confidants.
But who is Penelope, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, and how did she know the late Duke of Edinburgh?
Who is Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma?
Born in London, on April 16, 1963, Penelope Knatchbull, previously known as Lady Romsey and later Lady Brabourne is a British peeress.
Since 2010, she has served as High Steward of Romsey.
Penny is the only daughter of Reginald Eastwood, who was a butcher-turned-businessman.
She was educated in Switzerland and later graduated from the London School of Economics.
Countess Mountbatten is the wife of Earl Mountbatten, Norton Knatchbull – the grandson of Philip’s beloved uncle the 1st Earl Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA in 1979.
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They have three children together – Nicholas Knatchbull, Lord Brabourne, Lady Alexandra Hooper, and The Hon. Leonora Knatchbull, who tragically passed away at the age of five from kidney cancer.
Penelope’s husband of 31 years, Lord Brabourne, left her for a Bahamian fashion designer in 2010.
What do we know of Penelope and Philip’s friendship?
Penelope became close to the Queen and Prince Philip through her husband, after they were first introduced in 1975.
A royal insider remembered her as “one of the most natural young women I have ever met, outgoing but not brash or flirty”.
Philip first began teaching Penny the daredevil equestrian sport of carriage driving in 1994 and they remained firm friends for the rest of his life.
They were often pictured together at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, sometimes riding mini motorcycles around the carriage driving course.
She was apparently nicknamed “and also” by palace staff, as a guest list was rarely complete without her attendance.
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Penny also remained a steady companion to Philip in his final years.
She would visit him frequently at Sandringham after his retirement in 2017, and she was one of the 30 invited guests to his funeral in April 2021.